Loading ...

The recent denial to set bail conditions  by Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court in Abuja following a formal request filed by the the counsel to Chief Raymond Dokpesi is believed to be the results of a consorted intimidation and manipulation of Judges of the federal courts by the presidency through the use of the Department of Security Services [DSS] and the non-payment of wages.

As reported previously by 247ureports.com [Presidency Halts Salaries To Federal Judges – DSS Begins Harassment, Bugging Of Judges Phone lines], the presidency had sought to halt all bail applications request by arrested politicians affiliated to the previous administration – so as so enable longer stays inside detention while the investigating authorities continue their investigation. Some of the federal judges who spoke to 247ureports.com complained of the intimidation tactics applied by the agents of the DSS in bugging their communication lines and threatening to ‘expose’ their dealings with the opposition government should their refuse to comply by the new order.

The recent refusal to act on the bail hearing of Dokpesi by the Justice Kolawole falls within the gambit of the DSS/FG demand on the Judges. “Many more are expected, the tribunal rulings are there for all to see“.

–

See the previous report below:

Presidency Halts Salaries To Federal Judges – DSS Begins Harassment, Bugging Of Judges Phone lines

Information available to 247ureports.com indicates that all is not well with the Presidency and the Justices of the federal courts. This is as available information reveals that the presidency, working in tandem with the State Security Services [SSS/DSS] have initiated a campaign against federal Judges through the manipulation of the salaries and covert harassment through bugging of the telephone lines. For this reason, the presidency has refused to release monies to the judiciary to pay October and November 2015 salaries.

A competent source knowledgeable of the ongoings within the presidency revealed that the Presidency through the instruction of the President had adopted a new approach towards the federal court Judges – in an attempt to coarse them into ‘dancing’ to a particular tune that would enable the various anti-corruption agencies to arrest aides to the former administration and then arraign in court – without the Judge allowing for bail conditions to be given. The presidency wants Judges to not give bail to virtually all politically based arrests made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] and other-like organizations included the DSS. The concept is to give the Executive arm of the government a totalitarian grasp over the nation – to have the capability to arrest at their discretion and detain at their discretion – without interference from the Judiciary.

Our source notes that the Federal Judges were not immediately willing to entertain the concept envisaged by the presidency for the new role to be played by the Judiciary. Silently, some of the Judge expressed concerns to the Presidency indicating it would translate to clear adulteration of the Judiciary and the tenets of democracy should the Judiciary allow the Execute arm of the government operate as in period of military dictatorship. The presidency was quick to respond. They withheld the salaries and other associated monies to the judiciary in an effort to twist and/or manipulate the Judges into accepting the new role. The use of the Single Treasury Account [TSA] enabled the presidency act.  All monies that would have gone directly to the Judiciary – now seats at the TSA depot. From the depot, the presidency has ultimate control – and has opted not to remit the said monies.

Adding gravitas to the already odorized situation is the use of DSS officers to harass and instill fear into each of the federal Judges. One of the affected Judges who related his ordeal to 247ureports.com indicated that the DSS officially contacted his office explaining that his home was due for a security upgrade – and that the DSS is to do the upgrade. However upon initiating the upgrade project, the DSS instead of upgrade the security systems of the house, they began going through the Judges mobile phones and personal laptops and Ipad and other communication devices – in search for archived information and communication history. Shortly after the search, the DSS men approached the Judge to inform him that they have evidence on him that shows he has had ‘unclean’ dealings with the opposition party – and that he can be brought down if he does not accept the new order. The Judge noted that he was not the only Judge that the security officers had paid a visit.

The manner of the truncated trial of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the ongoing travails of the former National Security Adviser [NSA], Sambo Dasuki stems out of the presidency’s insatiable appetite to instill a dictatorial administration – without interference from the courts.

“They want to revert to the dark Abacha years when they can pick anyone and lockup at will for as long as they want without recourse to any law”, complained the Judge who went on to confirm that many of the Judges are frightened. “They are petrified and unsure of who to talk to. The DSS are vicious now. They have bugged all our mobile phones and other communication gadgets. I have never seen them this way in my entire years of practice”.

According to reliable information, the harassment has gone beyond mere Justices of the federal courts. The presidency, through the DSS, has honed its focus on the likely Justice of the Supreme Courts who will replace the current Chief Justice when he retires in November 2016. The present Chief Justice, Mahmud Mohammed hails from Jalingo in Taraba State – and the next Judge in line of seniority to take over after November 2016 is Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen who hails from Cross River State. Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen has been a Justice of the Supreme Court since 2005. But the Presidency, according information available to 247ureports.com has launched a comprehensive covert campaign against Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen for him to back away from ascending to the position. According to our source, the men of the DSS acting upon the instructions of the presidency, have ‘covertly’ invaded his home and have ransacked through all communication devices belonging to the Justice and his immediate family – in attempt to retrieve evidence that will bar him from becoming the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The Presidency is reported to have sworn not to appoint Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen the next Chief Justice come 2016. It prefers instead to appoint a northern Muslim who is likely to accept the new role of the judiciary.